National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness

It’s National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

Did you know it’s National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month? Throughout the month, businesses, community leaders, charities, and families will be working hard to shine a spotlight on a growing problem of traumatic brain injuries in America. The theme this year is “Not Alone,” and the campaign aims to provide a platform for informing the public about traumatic brain injuries and how they can help people who suffer from brain injuries on a daily basis. The overall goal is to get rid of the stigma associated with these injuries and promote support and research efforts aimed at bringing this growing problem under control.

Shining a Spotlight on Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury, often referred to as TBI, is a rapidly growing health concern in the United States. It affects people across professions, from athletes and soldiers to first responders and everyday people just going about their lives. The unnerving thing about TBIs is that they can occur anywhere. Whether in a sports arena, driving down the road, or at home, all it takes to sustain a TBI is a bad fall. In fact, falls are one of the primary causes of TBIs among children and adults, followed closely by car crashes, assaults, and blunt-force trauma.

Unfortunately, many people who sustain TBIs end up suffering from long-term, debilitating side effects. However, just how common are TBIs? Well, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries account for an estimated 2.2 million ER visits and more than 50,000 fatalities every year in the U.S. Even less severe brain injuries can result in long-term side effects, like frequent headaches, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss.

It’s important to remember, however, that the injured individuals aren’t the only ones that suffer from TBIs. Oftentimes, long-term TBI symptoms can have lasting impacts on their families and friends, which is a big reason why National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month aims to highlight avenues of support for those dealing with TBIs. So far, raising TBI awareness has paid off in more ways than one. For instance, major organizations, such sat the NFL and NCAA, have adopted new policies and guidelines in response to the public’s growing concern about traumatic brain injuries. Additionally, some companies have even started developing new technologies designed to improve our understanding about treating and preventing TBIs.